What do you think?
Rate this book
Olivia Welles #1
The Night I Died
A mother’s unthinkable crime and an investigator’s forgotten past collide in a shocking novel of suspense by Anne Frasier, the New York Times bestselling author of The Body Reader . Private detective Olivia Welles hasn’t been to her hometown since childhood, not since the night she died. She has no memory of the world before the car crash, or of coming back to life in the morgue. But now, years later, when fellow survivor Bonnie Ray calls from a Kansas jail begging for help, Olivia feels the tug of a dark and unremembered past. Bonnie looks guilty of murdering her young son—the third child to die under suspicious circumstances. Intrigued and seeking closure, Olivia agrees to investigate. Back in the foreboding town where her heart stopped and started again, Olivia finds an unexpected ally in Will LaFever, a journalist with his own motives for uncovering the truth. Together they unearth more than they expect about Bonnie, her traumatized family, and the crime. You’re lucky you don’t remember any of it, Olivia’s father used to say. But Olivia’s luck is running out. This time, escaping Finney County with her life might be impossible.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2023
1940 people are currently reading
9296 people want to read
About the author
Anne Frasier
37 books2,274 followersAnne Frasier is the New York Times, #1 Amazon Charts, and USA Today bestselling author of the Detective Jude Fontaine Mysteries, the Elise Sandburg series, and the Inland Empire novels. With more than a million copies sold, her award-winning books span the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, and memoir. The Body Reader received the 2017 Thriller Award for Best Original Paperback Novel from International Thriller Writers. Other honors include a RITA for Romantic Suspense and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Paranormal Romantic Mystery/Suspense. Her thrillers have hit the USA Today bestseller list and have been featured in Mystery Guild, the Literary Guild, and Book of the Month. Her memoir, The Orchard, was an O, The Oprah Magazine Fall Pick; a One Book, One Community read; and one of the Librarians’ Best Books of 2011. Visit her website at www.annefrasier.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
December 25, 2023
Alright, I’m going in. It’s NOT going to be pretty. The premise was so promising…. It sounds good right? Is it? Wrong! Absolutely NOT. It appears many others read a completely different book. I’m baffled really.
Something else that bothers me, I feel that some NetGalley readers are being nice. Which I get. Fear of being denied access due to low ratings and reviews. Why? I mean…. I’ve done it. I try to rate them at least 3 ⭐️ as I’ve only been on there a few months now. But 4 and 5 ⭐️ will definitely not be handed out to the most ridiculous stories.
The story is about a woman, Bonnie who is currently in jail for suspicion of killing her 3 children in a tiny Kansas town. Olivia is a private investigator who is on the hunt for answers, who was hired by Bonnie herself. Will LaFever is a journalist who runs into Olivia and teams up with her.
I’m not even going to go into details because it just becomes a real freak of a circus. It started out terribly slow too. Giving details of her flight, TSA, yada yada yada. Took 120 something pages before anything remotely got interesting. Then it just takes a massive nose dive. Huge. Each character is weird and annoying. The dialogue between Olivia and Will was boring and choppy. Her character wasn’t interesting to me at all. By the end, it just became something out of the TWILIGHT ZONE. Silly and ridiculous. I can’t believe it was even written.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS. Title is terribly misleading folks. This was my second book by her and DEFINITELY MY LAST! 2 stars is actually being nice. Boo on this one.
Something else that bothers me, I feel that some NetGalley readers are being nice. Which I get. Fear of being denied access due to low ratings and reviews. Why? I mean…. I’ve done it. I try to rate them at least 3 ⭐️ as I’ve only been on there a few months now. But 4 and 5 ⭐️ will definitely not be handed out to the most ridiculous stories.
The story is about a woman, Bonnie who is currently in jail for suspicion of killing her 3 children in a tiny Kansas town. Olivia is a private investigator who is on the hunt for answers, who was hired by Bonnie herself. Will LaFever is a journalist who runs into Olivia and teams up with her.
I’m not even going to go into details because it just becomes a real freak of a circus. It started out terribly slow too. Giving details of her flight, TSA, yada yada yada. Took 120 something pages before anything remotely got interesting. Then it just takes a massive nose dive. Huge. Each character is weird and annoying. The dialogue between Olivia and Will was boring and choppy. Her character wasn’t interesting to me at all. By the end, it just became something out of the TWILIGHT ZONE. Silly and ridiculous. I can’t believe it was even written.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS. Title is terribly misleading folks. This was my second book by her and DEFINITELY MY LAST! 2 stars is actually being nice. Boo on this one.
October 28, 2023
Private detective Olivia Welles hasn’t been back to her hometown in Kansas since childhood, not since the night she died in a car crash and came back to life in the morgue. Years later fellow survivor Bonnie Ray, now charged with murdering her own young son, calls from a Kansas jail asking for Olivia's help. With the assistance of journalist Will LaFever, Truman Capote wannabe, Olivia investigates the circumstances surrounding Bonnie's son's death and uncovers more than she bargained for.
I really enjoyed this book and found it well written and a smooth read. The characters are well drawn and I liked the bantering between Olivia and Will and how their relationship developed but not in a romantic way thank heavens. I especially loved Dorothy the dog. The town is quite creepy and the residents made me uneasy. I really liked how the author didn't take key incidents in the direction I was expecting but veered into unexpected territory instead. A refreshing change from cookie-cutter type plots.
TW: Child Mortality
I thought I had read one of the author's previous books but I guess not, they're still on my TBR. I hope to remedy that in the near future. I'll also be on the lookout for her next book. I'd love to see this duo become a series but wouldn't want to see their releationship become a romantic one.
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: October 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and found it well written and a smooth read. The characters are well drawn and I liked the bantering between Olivia and Will and how their relationship developed but not in a romantic way thank heavens. I especially loved Dorothy the dog. The town is quite creepy and the residents made me uneasy. I really liked how the author didn't take key incidents in the direction I was expecting but veered into unexpected territory instead. A refreshing change from cookie-cutter type plots.
TW: Child Mortality
I thought I had read one of the author's previous books but I guess not, they're still on my TBR. I hope to remedy that in the near future. I'll also be on the lookout for her next book. I'd love to see this duo become a series but wouldn't want to see their releationship become a romantic one.
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: October 24, 2023
July 13, 2023
This is my first read from the author and it absolutely will not be my last!
From the very first sentence, I was enthralled. I loved (loved!) our main character and her unexpected ‘sidekick’ and was completely horrified by this small Kansas town.
I didn’t want to put the book down. (In fairness, the author did send me down an internet rabbit hole when she wrote about the people selling dirt – for eating – on Etsy.)
The story is wonderfully twisty without feeling gimmicky and there’s a definite edge through everything.
I absolutely loved this and I’m so glad I read it!
• ARC via Publisher
From the very first sentence, I was enthralled. I loved (loved!) our main character and her unexpected ‘sidekick’ and was completely horrified by this small Kansas town.
I didn’t want to put the book down. (In fairness, the author did send me down an internet rabbit hole when she wrote about the people selling dirt – for eating – on Etsy.)
The story is wonderfully twisty without feeling gimmicky and there’s a definite edge through everything.
I absolutely loved this and I’m so glad I read it!
• ARC via Publisher
October 15, 2023
This is the third book that I have read by Anne Frasier. As a fan of her Inland Empire series, I really hope she is not finished with that series and that she has a third installment in the works. Anyway, Frasier is a really good writer and storyteller and one of things that I like about the Inland Empire is that the storylines veered to the somewhat bizarre and the plots are just really out there! Frasier didn’t disappoint in this story!
The book summary pretty much lays out the premise for the two primary storylines. However, I’m kind of pissed that it also gives away a really big spoiler! Seriously??? I know that the writer has no control over a GR book summary, GR’s just pulls those off the publisher’s website, but why would a publisher do something like that?
Anyway, Bonnie and Olivia are both survivors of a train wreck, back in Kansas, when they were little kids. Bonnie has been arrested for killing another one of her kids; she had four and only one is still alive. Olivia, who is a PI, and who moved to LA with her father after the train wreck (her mother was killed in the train wreck), goes to Bonnie after getting a call from Bonnie for help. Olivia also wants to tie up some loose ends surrounding her “death” when she was a kid; she remembers so little from before the train wreck. Olivia is scheduled for yet another surgery (she’s had quite a few) to correct a condition that she’s had ever since the train wreck. Olivia’s heart has flatlined numerous times since the train wreck and her doctor tells her that if she doesn’t have this latest surgery (she’s put it off long enough), she will die, again, permanently!
I like Olivia! She’s a grieving dog mama whose beloved Cecil Hotel (nine yr old Lab) recently crossed the rainbow bridge. She rescued him as a puppy in the trash can of the hotel she was staying at while on a case. I love how her assistant Ezra bombards her with photos of dogs available for adoption. While I love his sentiment, when grieving a fur baby, the grief doesn’t go away with a new dog. I also loved that Olivia rescues another abused and neglected doggie and takes her home to LA. Olivia is good people in my book!
There are secondary storylines as well. Like the one where Olivia meets Will, an exposé journalist for some Hollywood rag, who has come to Kansas to do a story on Bonnie; her arrest is national news. There is also the storyline of why Will is really there: to prove to his dead father (a famed Pulitzer Prize writer) that he’s a good writer too and someone his father could have been proud of. There’s another storyline around Bonnie’s husband, who is the town’s Marshall and who comes off as a bullying, philandering abuser.
Most of the story revolves around what happened to Bonnie’s kids, as well as what’s going on in her house. There is also Bonnie’s mother, Ava, who is a successful baker, well known for her apple pies that are mass produced in a factory on her property. Bonnie and her mother, as well as Olivia, are the only survivors of the train wreck; Olivia’s mother and Ava’s other daughter, Mazie, were killed. There are so many questions and/or secrets surrounding the train wreck and Olivia is certain either Ava and/or the town are hiding secrets about the wreck. Don’t even get me started on the town. The town is so weird and creepy, that residents from surrounding towns as well as truck drivers, avoid driving through it and will go out of their way not to go through it.
It's early into the second half that Olivia discovers why she has so many memory issues surrounding the wreck and why so many people have kept it secret. DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING!!! Shortly thereafter, many of the storylines begin to merge in a collision of lies and deceit and, quite frankly, some wild and crazy madness!!! The end comes pretty quickly after that in a really scary, intense, and overall, really creepy conclusion to the Kansas storylines.
For me, the conclusion seemed like a possible lead-in to another installment. I would be really interested in hearing from others who read the story if they thought the same. If there was a sequel or second installment to the Olivia Welles series, I would definitely read it. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #ThomasMercer #TheNightIDied
The book summary pretty much lays out the premise for the two primary storylines. However, I’m kind of pissed that it also gives away a really big spoiler! Seriously??? I know that the writer has no control over a GR book summary, GR’s just pulls those off the publisher’s website, but why would a publisher do something like that?
Anyway, Bonnie and Olivia are both survivors of a train wreck, back in Kansas, when they were little kids. Bonnie has been arrested for killing another one of her kids; she had four and only one is still alive. Olivia, who is a PI, and who moved to LA with her father after the train wreck (her mother was killed in the train wreck), goes to Bonnie after getting a call from Bonnie for help. Olivia also wants to tie up some loose ends surrounding her “death” when she was a kid; she remembers so little from before the train wreck. Olivia is scheduled for yet another surgery (she’s had quite a few) to correct a condition that she’s had ever since the train wreck. Olivia’s heart has flatlined numerous times since the train wreck and her doctor tells her that if she doesn’t have this latest surgery (she’s put it off long enough), she will die, again, permanently!
I like Olivia! She’s a grieving dog mama whose beloved Cecil Hotel (nine yr old Lab) recently crossed the rainbow bridge. She rescued him as a puppy in the trash can of the hotel she was staying at while on a case. I love how her assistant Ezra bombards her with photos of dogs available for adoption. While I love his sentiment, when grieving a fur baby, the grief doesn’t go away with a new dog. I also loved that Olivia rescues another abused and neglected doggie and takes her home to LA. Olivia is good people in my book!
There are secondary storylines as well. Like the one where Olivia meets Will, an exposé journalist for some Hollywood rag, who has come to Kansas to do a story on Bonnie; her arrest is national news. There is also the storyline of why Will is really there: to prove to his dead father (a famed Pulitzer Prize writer) that he’s a good writer too and someone his father could have been proud of. There’s another storyline around Bonnie’s husband, who is the town’s Marshall and who comes off as a bullying, philandering abuser.
Most of the story revolves around what happened to Bonnie’s kids, as well as what’s going on in her house. There is also Bonnie’s mother, Ava, who is a successful baker, well known for her apple pies that are mass produced in a factory on her property. Bonnie and her mother, as well as Olivia, are the only survivors of the train wreck; Olivia’s mother and Ava’s other daughter, Mazie, were killed. There are so many questions and/or secrets surrounding the train wreck and Olivia is certain either Ava and/or the town are hiding secrets about the wreck. Don’t even get me started on the town. The town is so weird and creepy, that residents from surrounding towns as well as truck drivers, avoid driving through it and will go out of their way not to go through it.
It's early into the second half that Olivia discovers why she has so many memory issues surrounding the wreck and why so many people have kept it secret. DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING!!! Shortly thereafter, many of the storylines begin to merge in a collision of lies and deceit and, quite frankly, some wild and crazy madness!!! The end comes pretty quickly after that in a really scary, intense, and overall, really creepy conclusion to the Kansas storylines.
For me, the conclusion seemed like a possible lead-in to another installment. I would be really interested in hearing from others who read the story if they thought the same. If there was a sequel or second installment to the Olivia Welles series, I would definitely read it. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #ThomasMercer #TheNightIDied
February 15, 2024
The Night I Died is a stand-alone novel by award-winning best-selling American author, Anne Frasier. In her thirty-eight years, California PI Olivia Welles has died five times, but it’s the first time, in Finney, Kansas, when she was only a child, that she cannot remember at all. Her late father, the coroner who attended the accident that also took the lives of his wife and Olivia’s best friend, used to tell her she was lucky not to remember. She’s never been back to Kansas, which “held the allure of an unremembered loss. Her inability to recall any of it made it even more mysterious”
Now, a call from Bonnie Ray-Murphy, the dead best friend’s younger sister who survived the accident, seems like an opportunity to go back to Finney to see if it prompts her recall. Bonnie is in the county jail, suspected of the murder of her third child. Two have already died, and social media has her tried, convicted and sentenced.
But Bonnie knows that Olivia is smart, and has the best chance of finding out the truth: even though Bonnie is married to the county marshal, she doesn’t expect any help from the town that seems ready to condemn her. Olivia isn’t promising anything, is unconvinced of Bonnie’s innocence, but heads for Kansas anyway.
Journalist for the online paper, Hard Times, Will LaFever is determined to get the true story before anyone else does, and if the star of Private Dick Chick forms part of his true-crime story, so much the better. His underhanded trick gets him a ride with her to Finney, and he tries to cash in on their acquaintance to get information, but neither Olivia, nor the Finney locals are fooled by this young, handsome, blue-eyed but flaky Truman Capote wannabe.
Olivia’s young assistant, Ezra Tobias Rafael III is convinced that Olivia’s grief for the loss of her dog will be alleviated with a new pup. In between sending her links to rescue dogs he provides efficient IT support and research on various persons of interest. Olivia’s chats with those who know the Ray-Murphy family also take her to places that might stir memories: will she finally remember what happened?
Between the three of them, they uncover some disturbing information that someone, or perhaps several someones in the town don’t want becoming common knowledge, and things start to get dangerous for Olivia and Will.
Frasier gives the reader protagonists with depth and appeal, more than enough intrigue to keep the pages turning, quite a bit of humour, plenty of action in the lead up to a dramatic climax (or two), an excellent twist and a dog. This is very satisfying crime fiction, and more of this cast would be very welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
Now, a call from Bonnie Ray-Murphy, the dead best friend’s younger sister who survived the accident, seems like an opportunity to go back to Finney to see if it prompts her recall. Bonnie is in the county jail, suspected of the murder of her third child. Two have already died, and social media has her tried, convicted and sentenced.
But Bonnie knows that Olivia is smart, and has the best chance of finding out the truth: even though Bonnie is married to the county marshal, she doesn’t expect any help from the town that seems ready to condemn her. Olivia isn’t promising anything, is unconvinced of Bonnie’s innocence, but heads for Kansas anyway.
Journalist for the online paper, Hard Times, Will LaFever is determined to get the true story before anyone else does, and if the star of Private Dick Chick forms part of his true-crime story, so much the better. His underhanded trick gets him a ride with her to Finney, and he tries to cash in on their acquaintance to get information, but neither Olivia, nor the Finney locals are fooled by this young, handsome, blue-eyed but flaky Truman Capote wannabe.
Olivia’s young assistant, Ezra Tobias Rafael III is convinced that Olivia’s grief for the loss of her dog will be alleviated with a new pup. In between sending her links to rescue dogs he provides efficient IT support and research on various persons of interest. Olivia’s chats with those who know the Ray-Murphy family also take her to places that might stir memories: will she finally remember what happened?
Between the three of them, they uncover some disturbing information that someone, or perhaps several someones in the town don’t want becoming common knowledge, and things start to get dangerous for Olivia and Will.
Frasier gives the reader protagonists with depth and appeal, more than enough intrigue to keep the pages turning, quite a bit of humour, plenty of action in the lead up to a dramatic climax (or two), an excellent twist and a dog. This is very satisfying crime fiction, and more of this cast would be very welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
November 8, 2023
To be honest, I never read the book details, the title alone had me intrigued.
And HOLY WOW!!! My first read by this author and it truly was an incredible experience. Yes, experience… the way the story is told, truly had you in the minds of the main characters …feeling everything that they did and feelings / emotions of all that was going on. I absolutely adored Olivia and Will. They were such real, raw and beautifully crafted characters.
The story to me, was truly one of a kind. Something I have personally never came across. I was sucked in within the first few sentences and did not want to put it down. It was just as twisted as it needed to be! It has an unknown edge that keeps you craving for the rest of the knowns… that kept coming. (Side note : those don’t stop until the very end… which I loved. I never felt a bore throughout the whole book and it did not have fluff! HUGE PLUS on my scale.)
The whole Etsy thing… got me too! I then was scrolling on my own learning this new information handed to us in this book and then started showing my family memebers. 😆 WE ALL MUST BE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS LOL!
I loved every piece of this beautiful yet tragic story and at points even felt I may have cried for the characters.
This WILL not be my last read by Anne and I can’t wait to read my next, already!
I want to thank Netgalley, Anne and Thomas & Mercer publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book is definitely in my top 8 favorites for 2023, so far!
Publication date is set for 10/24/23 👏
*edited to say here I am 11/8/23 and still thinking about this story..* lol
And HOLY WOW!!! My first read by this author and it truly was an incredible experience. Yes, experience… the way the story is told, truly had you in the minds of the main characters …feeling everything that they did and feelings / emotions of all that was going on. I absolutely adored Olivia and Will. They were such real, raw and beautifully crafted characters.
The story to me, was truly one of a kind. Something I have personally never came across. I was sucked in within the first few sentences and did not want to put it down. It was just as twisted as it needed to be! It has an unknown edge that keeps you craving for the rest of the knowns… that kept coming. (Side note : those don’t stop until the very end… which I loved. I never felt a bore throughout the whole book and it did not have fluff! HUGE PLUS on my scale.)
The whole Etsy thing… got me too! I then was scrolling on my own learning this new information handed to us in this book and then started showing my family memebers. 😆 WE ALL MUST BE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS LOL!
I loved every piece of this beautiful yet tragic story and at points even felt I may have cried for the characters.
This WILL not be my last read by Anne and I can’t wait to read my next, already!
I want to thank Netgalley, Anne and Thomas & Mercer publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book is definitely in my top 8 favorites for 2023, so far!
Publication date is set for 10/24/23 👏
*edited to say here I am 11/8/23 and still thinking about this story..* lol
July 9, 2023
Did I read a different book from everyone else?? I’m thoroughly confused. The Night I Died, much like its title, is poorly written and lacks subtlety. There are a couple of layers to the so-called mystery, but the “twist” involving the main character was fairly obvious (the most shocking part was how anyone thought this made sense as a twist? It propagates SO many plot holes.). I was shaking my head in disbelief at how amateur this read. The reveal(s) involving the child murders were unsatisfying because there was no real explanation/motive. It didn’t have that snap of OH my gosh I didn’t see that coming but it makes SOMUCHSENSE! It was just like… yup, ok.
Both Olivia and what’s-his-name’s POVs were robotic, repetitive, and frankly boring. I was honestly wondering if one/both of them were sociopaths because it would explain the complete lack of personality they both had. The dialogue was odd (why does she randomly say “bloody hell” at one point? She grew up in Kansas/California, this makes no sense and is not a catchphrase of hers because she never says it again). The sentences were so choppy it felt like reading a child’s attempt at writing a novel. The sentence structure was short and simple and drudging through it was a joyless experience for me. The book was also light years longer than it needed to be; I thought (hoped) it was ending at two different points before it finally did. Why was the book so unnecessarily long, you ask? Perhaps due to the mundane descriptions of things nobody cares about, like VFW halls. I don’t typically pull quotes from arcs because I know the books aren’t finalized, but there were so many heinous sentences/paragraphs I could’ve pulled from, it doesn’t feel unfair to do this:
“The walls were wood paneling, the floor, those suspicious squares that would most likely require abatement if ever removed. There were gold flag stands, one with the American flag, another with a Veterans of Foreign Wars, and one of Kansas. The Kansas flag was pretty, with a sunflower and a horse pulling a plow. The building had no interior walls. Hence the word hall. Just one big room, the kitchen separated by a counter. This is where they ripped open bags of paper plates and dealt them out for quick serving.”
IS THIS A JOKE. Hence the word “hall” had me laughing out loud. The only conceivable reason I need this description is if some attack is going to occur and she’s going to use her quick wit to grab a flag pole to stab someone, preferably me, in the eyeball. But in all seriousness, this is just so unnecessary, and it happens all throughout the book. We get descriptions on how the townspeople know how to line up for an ice cream social. We get a description of a local beer: “it was pretty good”. We get treated descriptions of lots of gas station food and ice cream. But the problem is none of the descriptions have strong imagery, none of them bring me closer to the characters or their psyches, it’s just fluff. And boring fluff, at that.
Furthermore, Olivia has next to no skills as a private detective. She makes some calls to “contacts” of hers, but her career was largely irrelevant to her character. She literally just could’ve been a civilian without the private detective role. The book shits all over Kansas and makes it seem like another (lesser) universe. The stuff going down in Finney would never happen anywhere, it was illegal move after illegal move, and the idea that there would be no oversight beyond Marshal Murphy is laughable.
To enjoy this book I would’ve had to suspend my brain cells along with my disbelief. 1.5 stars rounded up to 2 because I’m not a monster and there was clearly thought put into this but it needs AGGRESSIVE editing to be enjoyable IMO.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Both Olivia and what’s-his-name’s POVs were robotic, repetitive, and frankly boring. I was honestly wondering if one/both of them were sociopaths because it would explain the complete lack of personality they both had. The dialogue was odd (why does she randomly say “bloody hell” at one point? She grew up in Kansas/California, this makes no sense and is not a catchphrase of hers because she never says it again). The sentences were so choppy it felt like reading a child’s attempt at writing a novel. The sentence structure was short and simple and drudging through it was a joyless experience for me. The book was also light years longer than it needed to be; I thought (hoped) it was ending at two different points before it finally did. Why was the book so unnecessarily long, you ask? Perhaps due to the mundane descriptions of things nobody cares about, like VFW halls. I don’t typically pull quotes from arcs because I know the books aren’t finalized, but there were so many heinous sentences/paragraphs I could’ve pulled from, it doesn’t feel unfair to do this:
“The walls were wood paneling, the floor, those suspicious squares that would most likely require abatement if ever removed. There were gold flag stands, one with the American flag, another with a Veterans of Foreign Wars, and one of Kansas. The Kansas flag was pretty, with a sunflower and a horse pulling a plow. The building had no interior walls. Hence the word hall. Just one big room, the kitchen separated by a counter. This is where they ripped open bags of paper plates and dealt them out for quick serving.”
IS THIS A JOKE. Hence the word “hall” had me laughing out loud. The only conceivable reason I need this description is if some attack is going to occur and she’s going to use her quick wit to grab a flag pole to stab someone, preferably me, in the eyeball. But in all seriousness, this is just so unnecessary, and it happens all throughout the book. We get descriptions on how the townspeople know how to line up for an ice cream social. We get a description of a local beer: “it was pretty good”. We get treated descriptions of lots of gas station food and ice cream. But the problem is none of the descriptions have strong imagery, none of them bring me closer to the characters or their psyches, it’s just fluff. And boring fluff, at that.
Furthermore, Olivia has next to no skills as a private detective. She makes some calls to “contacts” of hers, but her career was largely irrelevant to her character. She literally just could’ve been a civilian without the private detective role. The book shits all over Kansas and makes it seem like another (lesser) universe. The stuff going down in Finney would never happen anywhere, it was illegal move after illegal move, and the idea that there would be no oversight beyond Marshal Murphy is laughable.
To enjoy this book I would’ve had to suspend my brain cells along with my disbelief. 1.5 stars rounded up to 2 because I’m not a monster and there was clearly thought put into this but it needs AGGRESSIVE editing to be enjoyable IMO.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2023
Big thanks to both Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Night I Died, by Anne Frasier.
The Night I Died is an intriguing look at a mother’s unthinkable crime and an investigator’s forgotten past. Seeking closure, Olivia agrees to return to Finney. Thanks to unforeseen circumstances, Olivia finds an unexpected ally in Will LaFever, a journalist with his own motives for uncovering the truth.
I have to admit to being a bit confused when I started this book by all the "This person died and came back to life this many times. That person died and came back to life that many times," etc. It was a hook I could have done without. However, I persevered because I've read a couple of other books Ms. Frasier has written and have enjoyed them. I'm glad I kept reading! The twists kept me on my toes.
I laughed when Ezra said to Will: Olivia is scheduled for surgery in a week. It's something she needs to have done. And instead of resting and walking along the beach, she's flying to Hellhole Hillbilly Redneck, Kansas, risking her life for some woman who probably killed her kids and she's being assisted by some guy who thinks he's Truman Capote! (I've paraphrased.)
All I can say is if I'm ever driving and see a sign that says "Now entering Finney County" I'm going to keep my foot down on the gas pedal! Hard!!
The Night I Died is an intriguing look at a mother’s unthinkable crime and an investigator’s forgotten past. Seeking closure, Olivia agrees to return to Finney. Thanks to unforeseen circumstances, Olivia finds an unexpected ally in Will LaFever, a journalist with his own motives for uncovering the truth.
I have to admit to being a bit confused when I started this book by all the "This person died and came back to life this many times. That person died and came back to life that many times," etc. It was a hook I could have done without. However, I persevered because I've read a couple of other books Ms. Frasier has written and have enjoyed them. I'm glad I kept reading! The twists kept me on my toes.
I laughed when Ezra said to Will: Olivia is scheduled for surgery in a week. It's something she needs to have done. And instead of resting and walking along the beach, she's flying to Hellhole Hillbilly Redneck, Kansas, risking her life for some woman who probably killed her kids and she's being assisted by some guy who thinks he's Truman Capote! (I've paraphrased.)
All I can say is if I'm ever driving and see a sign that says "Now entering Finney County" I'm going to keep my foot down on the gas pedal! Hard!!
September 14, 2025
This book really worked for me. It was intense and dynamic, with an absorbing (and horrifying) premise that was well executed.
I actually figured out the perp (one of them anyway) before Olivia, the private investigator, did, but I didn't see the big reveal coming.
Olivia was standoffish, but she had a big heart, and Will, with his goofiness and impulsiveness, was a good guy. My favorite character, though, was Dorothy, who was hella fierce and brave.
Yes, Dorothy is a dog. The dog is always my favorite.
I actually started the second book immediately after and, whoa, I don't know what the author was thinking with that bewildering setup, but after skimming a bit, I decided to pretend the sequel doesn't exist.
I actually figured out the perp (one of them anyway) before Olivia, the private investigator, did, but I didn't see the big reveal coming.
Olivia was standoffish, but she had a big heart, and Will, with his goofiness and impulsiveness, was a good guy. My favorite character, though, was Dorothy, who was hella fierce and brave.
Yes, Dorothy is a dog. The dog is always my favorite.
I actually started the second book immediately after and, whoa, I don't know what the author was thinking with that bewildering setup, but after skimming a bit, I decided to pretend the sequel doesn't exist.
November 28, 2023
Who Knew Kansas Could Be So Exciting?
"The Night I Died" is the first book I've read by this author, and I plan on reading more. I loved this unique and twisted story and have several of her books on my TBR list.
Frasier describes the Kansas setting in detail. Endless corn fields and constant wind coats everything with a grimy coat of dirt. Finney County, Kansas, is not the ideal spot to visit, but a strange phone call draws Olivia to the town where she was born and died for the first time.
Olivia and Will are great characters that the author has described in great detail. They shake things up fast! The excitement begins with a burning car and keeps coming at a steady pace. I loved both of them and hope the author continues their story.
#TheNightIDied #AnneFrasier #Kansas #justfinished #kindleunlimited #thriller #honestreview #amazonpublishing
#thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #suspense #mystery #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #lovetoreadbooks #fortheloveofbooks #booknerd #bookreviewer #instabook #readaholic #igbookreels
"The Night I Died" is the first book I've read by this author, and I plan on reading more. I loved this unique and twisted story and have several of her books on my TBR list.
Frasier describes the Kansas setting in detail. Endless corn fields and constant wind coats everything with a grimy coat of dirt. Finney County, Kansas, is not the ideal spot to visit, but a strange phone call draws Olivia to the town where she was born and died for the first time.
Olivia and Will are great characters that the author has described in great detail. They shake things up fast! The excitement begins with a burning car and keeps coming at a steady pace. I loved both of them and hope the author continues their story.
#TheNightIDied #AnneFrasier #Kansas #justfinished #kindleunlimited #thriller #honestreview #amazonpublishing
#thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #suspense #mystery #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #lovetoreadbooks #fortheloveofbooks #booknerd #bookreviewer #instabook #readaholic #igbookreels
July 19, 2023
This was such a fun and tense read that had unexpected turns from the very first page.
It was so easy to lose yourself in the pages of The Night I Died. I didn’t want to put the book down because I was so intrigued by finding out the truth of what was happening and getting to the bottom of it along with the characters.
I can honestly say I didn’t see half of the huge plot twists coming and that’s what I love about books like these.
I do have to say that personally, I felt like some things could’ve been left out of the book as it wasn’t necessary or needed for the plot.
Overall, I had great fun with this and I am excited to see what comes next from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was so easy to lose yourself in the pages of The Night I Died. I didn’t want to put the book down because I was so intrigued by finding out the truth of what was happening and getting to the bottom of it along with the characters.
I can honestly say I didn’t see half of the huge plot twists coming and that’s what I love about books like these.
I do have to say that personally, I felt like some things could’ve been left out of the book as it wasn’t necessary or needed for the plot.
Overall, I had great fun with this and I am excited to see what comes next from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2023
This book was amazing! The big plot twist at the end caught me by surprise. Had to reread to catch all the clues I missed. Glad this was fully focused on the mystery and didn’t force the female lead into a romantic relationship to further the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley I was able to enjoy this book before it’s published.
Thanks to NetGalley I was able to enjoy this book before it’s published.
June 28, 2025
3,5⭐️
Якщо перша дилогія авторки «Знайди мене» мені сподобалась, дуже було цікаво читати, то тут із самого початку багато що не подобалося. Сюжет і Гг не зачіпали. Лише у другій половині стало цікавіше. Але ця історія однозначно слабша за першу дилогію для мене, вам може і більше сподобається.
Якщо перша дилогія авторки «Знайди мене» мені сподобалась, дуже було цікаво читати, то тут із самого початку багато що не подобалося. Сюжет і Гг не зачіпали. Лише у другій половині стало цікавіше. Але ця історія однозначно слабша за першу дилогію для мене, вам може і більше сподобається.
September 6, 2023
This was an easy read, although predictable and a bit bland. The pacing is off and I never felt connected to the characters. This one didn’t quite work for me but was a quick read. 2.5 ⭐️
July 21, 2023
Anne Frasier is an author I have read before and will be looking to read more of. I found the premise and main character of "The Night I Died" very intriguing.
Olivia is a complex and flawed character and I wanted to find out more about her after discovering she was involved in a fatal accident when she was a child, which she ultimately survived, but that killed her mother and her friend Mazie. Fast forward years later, Olivia receives a phone call from Bonnie, Mazie's sister, another survivor of the accident, asking for Olivia's help. Bonnie is in jail for the death of her child. This is not the first child of hers to die under suspicious circumstances.
Olivia feels compelled to return to Finney, KS where the tragedy happened, not only for herself but for Bonnie as well. I appreciated the fact that Olivia's relationship with Will stayed as it was and didn't turn into a romantic cliche!
This was a very engaging story that kept me turning the pages! If this is the start of a series, I would definitely read more! A solid 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just remind me to never go to Finney, KS!! 😛
A big thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
Olivia is a complex and flawed character and I wanted to find out more about her after discovering she was involved in a fatal accident when she was a child, which she ultimately survived, but that killed her mother and her friend Mazie. Fast forward years later, Olivia receives a phone call from Bonnie, Mazie's sister, another survivor of the accident, asking for Olivia's help. Bonnie is in jail for the death of her child. This is not the first child of hers to die under suspicious circumstances.
Olivia feels compelled to return to Finney, KS where the tragedy happened, not only for herself but for Bonnie as well. I appreciated the fact that Olivia's relationship with Will stayed as it was and didn't turn into a romantic cliche!
This was a very engaging story that kept me turning the pages! If this is the start of a series, I would definitely read more! A solid 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just remind me to never go to Finney, KS!! 😛
A big thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
June 26, 2023
It has been a few years since I read anything by Anne Frasier, and now I'm wondering why it has been so long. This was a crazy ride filled with shocking twists! I loved the character relationship between Olivia and Will and would be thrilled to have more stories featuring them. Fingers crossed that the author makes this into a series. I can't agree with other reviews that this book was completely suspenseful. I felt like it lacked in intensity until about the halfway point. Olivia being in her head so much took that feeling away from me. Don't get me wrong, this book was fantastic! I just think that something is missing in the first half that would help create more suspense. Maybe it's just me or due to the fact that I was reading an unedited version. I would still recommend this to all the mystery lovers out there. It was a really good book!
Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me advanced digital access in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me advanced digital access in exchange for my honest review!
November 25, 2023
Talk about crazy
This was crazy and crazy good! Olivia is a private Detective. Funny name for her show but it might not make it past big brother. So I wont. But she is called by a childhood friend to help her prove she didn't kill her own kids. Olivia heads out, meets an intrepid young reporter and off they go to Kansas. There is no yellow brick road, just a trail of dead children and memories of a bad accident she had when she was a child. Events keep getting more and more sinister and while I suspected the twist, parts of it still came as a surprise. Dorothy the dog was a nice addition to the team. The ending was really good too. I just love this author. Hope this becomes a series.
This was crazy and crazy good! Olivia is a private Detective. Funny name for her show but it might not make it past big brother. So I wont. But she is called by a childhood friend to help her prove she didn't kill her own kids. Olivia heads out, meets an intrepid young reporter and off they go to Kansas. There is no yellow brick road, just a trail of dead children and memories of a bad accident she had when she was a child. Events keep getting more and more sinister and while I suspected the twist, parts of it still came as a surprise. Dorothy the dog was a nice addition to the team. The ending was really good too. I just love this author. Hope this becomes a series.
October 18, 2023
The title of this book, The Night I Died, immediately grabbed my attention. This is a murder mystery novel and I usually am not a fan of this genre. I was pleasantly surprised and I definitely enjoyed this story.
November 25, 2023
Very interesting. Not what I expected!
February 29, 2024
You absolutely need to suspend your disbelief for a couple of the twists, but this is a good read. No, a stranger is not going to let you brush their hair because it “feels good” so you may cleverly get some DNA. I thought the characters were well written and I enjoyed the fast paced story. I loved Olivia. I also appreciated the author’s sense of humor. The narration by Barrie Kreinik is excellent as always.
November 1, 2023
Every time a new Anne Frasier book comes out, I hope it's a new Elise Sandburg story, and then it isn't, but I'm not even disappointed! This one took all kinds of turns I wasn't expecting and I just went along for the ride.
Frasier always does a great job with the atmosphere, and she deftly described rural Kansas.
Olivia feels a strong pull to go back to Kansas, where she was born, but isn't sure why. She's a bit unmoored in her life, having lost her father and dog, and also facing life altering (or ending) surgery. The fact that Olivia is a former homicide detective gives her sharper instincts and she uses her connections to make sure what's going on in the small town doesn't get swept under the rug.
I loved Olivia, and was kind of charmed by her weird relationship with traveling journalist Will. If this were to turn into another book or two, I wouldn't mind at all.
Frasier always does a great job with the atmosphere, and she deftly described rural Kansas.
Olivia feels a strong pull to go back to Kansas, where she was born, but isn't sure why. She's a bit unmoored in her life, having lost her father and dog, and also facing life altering (or ending) surgery. The fact that Olivia is a former homicide detective gives her sharper instincts and she uses her connections to make sure what's going on in the small town doesn't get swept under the rug.
I loved Olivia, and was kind of charmed by her weird relationship with traveling journalist Will. If this were to turn into another book or two, I wouldn't mind at all.
December 18, 2023
"Wow, "The Night I Died" by Anne Frasier totally rocked my reading world this year! Picture this: small-town vibes, a dash of suspense, and the spooky charm of Finney County, Kansas. Olivia is just amazing – she's smart, sassy, and a total dog lover. The story's twists and turns had me totally hooked. Anne Frasier's way of describing the characters makes them jump off the page. If you're into thrilling and atmospheric reads, this book is a must! Highly recommend diving into this captivating tale!"
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Anne Frasier for the arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Anne Frasier for the arc!
October 25, 2023
Loved these characters!
March 2, 2024
Having not read anything by the author, but after reading a friends review I thought I’d give this book a try. I was pleasantly surprised, the book was very, very good. A very different, and very unique storyline.
The main character, Olivia Welles, has died five times in her lifetime, the first being when she was in a car and hit by a train in Kansas. Her severely damaged body has endured many surgeries, including a metal plate in her head. She has been a homicide detective and is currently a Private Investigator. Olivia gets a call from her long ago past, a sister of her friend that was killed in the train accident.
Olivia flies to Kansas and meets a man, Will, who is traveling to the same small town that she is heading to. They end up driving together and staying at the only motel in the small town. She is there to investigate the charges against her old friend of killing her young son. Will is there as a journalist to write a story on the bizarre case. Olivia and Will become friends and watch each other’s back in this bizarre town.
(A favorite part for me is when Olivia rescues a dog named Dorothy from being euthanized.)
The ending was fabulous with many twists and we get a clearer understanding
of what really transpired so many years ago and the evilness that has been happening since.
The main character, Olivia Welles, has died five times in her lifetime, the first being when she was in a car and hit by a train in Kansas. Her severely damaged body has endured many surgeries, including a metal plate in her head. She has been a homicide detective and is currently a Private Investigator. Olivia gets a call from her long ago past, a sister of her friend that was killed in the train accident.
Olivia flies to Kansas and meets a man, Will, who is traveling to the same small town that she is heading to. They end up driving together and staying at the only motel in the small town. She is there to investigate the charges against her old friend of killing her young son. Will is there as a journalist to write a story on the bizarre case. Olivia and Will become friends and watch each other’s back in this bizarre town.
(A favorite part for me is when Olivia rescues a dog named Dorothy from being euthanized.)
The ending was fabulous with many twists and we get a clearer understanding
of what really transpired so many years ago and the evilness that has been happening since.
September 12, 2023
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for my copy of The Night I Died.
This was a really interesting read for me. I love domestic thrillers and the more drama there is, the more invested I get. I found the whole concept of coming back to your hometown cause of a murder really interesting. Olivia was a cool character and I enjoyed the discussion of her physical and mental trauma and I feel like it should've been discussed more. I felt like Will was an irrelevant character as this whole novel would work if it's just Olivia since there's so much to unpack. I didn't expect the plot twist but the reveal was so underwhelming. I feel like it just kind of crept out of nowhere.
I did enjoy the pacing of the book. It didn't dilly dally much. All I really wished is that the whole book focused more on Oliva. A good read and definitely recommend.
This was a really interesting read for me. I love domestic thrillers and the more drama there is, the more invested I get. I found the whole concept of coming back to your hometown cause of a murder really interesting. Olivia was a cool character and I enjoyed the discussion of her physical and mental trauma and I feel like it should've been discussed more. I felt like Will was an irrelevant character as this whole novel would work if it's just Olivia since there's so much to unpack. I didn't expect the plot twist but the reveal was so underwhelming. I feel like it just kind of crept out of nowhere.
I did enjoy the pacing of the book. It didn't dilly dally much. All I really wished is that the whole book focused more on Oliva. A good read and definitely recommend.
May 14, 2025
A simmering small town mystery that burns with secrets just beneath the surface. Anne Frasier has done it again. She has created complex characters with complicated pasts and thrown them into the deep end. I look forward to the sequel.
March 2, 2025
Did this audio.. got halfway through and just as it sucked me in, I lost access to my version. SO THANKFUL I waited a couple days and found it again so I was able to finish! Got wild at the end there.. the saddest part is that there are really people on this earth that will do absurd things for attention!
June 2, 2025
Я мала такі надії на цю книжку після дилогії «Інленд Емпайр» і розчарувалася.
Стиль Енн той самий, хіба що трохи лаконічніший. Але чомусь не зачепило. Може, тому що головна героїня дуже суха й закрита. Може, тому що сюжет не був добре продуманий, розслідування не затягнуло, а розвʼязка не здивувала. Може, атмосфера маленького ворожого містечка виявилась аж надто гнітючою. Є друга книга, і звісно ж, я її читатиму, але все одно сумно.
3,5/5
Стиль Енн той самий, хіба що трохи лаконічніший. Але чомусь не зачепило. Може, тому що головна героїня дуже суха й закрита. Може, тому що сюжет не був добре продуманий, розслідування не затягнуло, а розвʼязка не здивувала. Може, атмосфера маленького ворожого містечка виявилась аж надто гнітючою. Є друга книга, і звісно ж, я її читатиму, але все одно сумно.
3,5/5
December 2, 2023
Former homicide detective Olivia Welles grew up in Kansas and as a young girl was involved in an accident with a train. This is the first time she died. It was discovered at the morgue that she was alive.
Now working as a private private investigator, she is asked to come back to her home town by a fellow survivor, Bonnie Ray, who has been accused of killing several of her children in different circumstances.
“Do you ever think you’re a ghost?” she asked. “Ghost?” “Yeah. Like we both should’ve died that day. There’s no reason we survived. And you did die.”
She teams up with Will LaFever, a reporter who is covering the story for his own reasons. He is an odd character. What a crazy pair they make! Yet they come to each others aid a number of times. At times cheesy, yet also bizarre and disjointed.
The townspeople had a mob mentality and it was so strange. At first I was drawn into the story, but the farther in I went, I just kept shaking my head. There is a big twist near the end. All in all, it was an okay read for me.
I picked this up as a ‘read now’ book on Netgalley. I thought it would be a good fall, spooky season book. I found I had to suspend belief a little too much for my liking. It’s listed as a thriller but I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as such.
2.75/5 stars
CW: Death of a child (not descriptive)
*Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now working as a private private investigator, she is asked to come back to her home town by a fellow survivor, Bonnie Ray, who has been accused of killing several of her children in different circumstances.
“Do you ever think you’re a ghost?” she asked. “Ghost?” “Yeah. Like we both should’ve died that day. There’s no reason we survived. And you did die.”
She teams up with Will LaFever, a reporter who is covering the story for his own reasons. He is an odd character. What a crazy pair they make! Yet they come to each others aid a number of times. At times cheesy, yet also bizarre and disjointed.
The townspeople had a mob mentality and it was so strange. At first I was drawn into the story, but the farther in I went, I just kept shaking my head. There is a big twist near the end. All in all, it was an okay read for me.
I picked this up as a ‘read now’ book on Netgalley. I thought it would be a good fall, spooky season book. I found I had to suspend belief a little too much for my liking. It’s listed as a thriller but I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as such.
2.75/5 stars
CW: Death of a child (not descriptive)
*Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2024
this gave me a headache it was so hard to get through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews